Big Island firefighters had suppressed one fire and were moving closer to containing two more yesterday, according to Civil Defense administrator Troy Kindred.

The fires were among nine that officials suspect were deliberately set early Sunday morning in dry brush along roadsides in Waikoloa, Puako and around Kawaihae. Together, the fires burned 2,300 to 2,600 acres and prompted the evacuation until Sunday evening of about 400 people from Puako, but no homes or businesses were damaged.

Kindred said a fire off the Akone Pule Highway was 90 percent contained. The Puako fire is expected to continue burning for the next few days at least.